5 Reasons to Homeschool a Dyslexic Child

I don’t homeschool my children, but like many, I experienced home education during Covid-19 lockdowns. I must admit I found it challenging. However, many parents relish the opportunity to home school a dyslexic child.

I recently caught up with Joanne, who has homeschooled her son, Josh, for the last six years.

Our sons went to the same primary school, and most mornings, after we got our boys into class (and yes, that was always a struggle), Joanne and I would chat about how our kids were doing. We found the lack of dyslexia support for our children incredibly frustrating.

Joanne’s son, Josh, was a year younger than my son, Harry. Josh’s self-confidence hit rock bottom that year. When Joanne discovered he was self-harming, she searched for another school but found nothing better. In desperation, she asked me if I would go along with her to an information evening on homeschooling. We met a very positive group of mothers who reassured us that there were resources and support for parents who chose to home-educate.

Joanne decided to give it a try. It was a brave move as she was a single mum and had to pay her bills. I kept Harry in school but began tutoring him myself using the All About Learning Resources   Read my post about teaching spelling and reading in 30 minutes a day using these resources.

Joanne’s 5 Reasons to Homeschool a Dyslexic Child

1. Josh’s self-confidence returned when he found a supportive group of friends.

“Josh was always excluded from friendship groups at school. The other children weren’t accepting of his differences. After a few weeks of homeschooling, I got my happy boy back, and he hasn’t been in tears since.

He’s never suffered bullying at the homeschooling events. The parents organise ski trips and outings, and once a week they book a sports centre for the children to participate in various sports. Parents also run drama classes, music groups and a choir.

Josh has more opportunities than he would in many schools. He gets invited to sleepovers and parties, which never happened before.”

2. She could offer Josh the 1-1 intensive support he needed.

“We have a set routine with lessons starting at nine through until lunch. I have found a curriculum that works for Josh and what I love is he’s not under any pressure. When he’s put under pressure, he can’t learn. We take things at his pace, and study only what interests him.”

3. She could tailor the curriculum to suit Josh’s interests.

“We are fortunate that there are some very talented homeschool parents who run Zoom lessons in subjects such as science. I also pay online tutoring subscriptions for Josh. I get a payment twice a year from the Ministry of Education, which covers most of these expenses, although his art materials are extra.

The homeschooling network we are part of has organised courses at a local design college, and Josh studies computer design and coding. The tutor said Josh is doing well and now Josh is considering a career in computing.”

4. Josh doesn’t have to take examinations.

“In mainstream school, they would have channeled Josh down a path to examinations. I have been able to remove this pressure. He’s taking courses that align with his interests, but he doesn’t have to be at a certain level at a particular age. Josh is a year or two behind developmentally, and removing this pressure has been wonderful.

We know of other homeschooled children who do mainstream examinations through a correspondence school.”

5. She found the homeschooling parental support amazing.

“An incredible group of homeschooling parents support me. I reached out to the group for help in completing the Ministry of Education forms to get our exemption certificate.

Once we started homeschooling, the responsibility of teaching Josh frequently overwhelmed me. Whenever I got stuck, I would call a mum from the group for advice. Help has been there for me every step of the way.

We get together regularly for parents only dessert evenings, which are always very uplifting. People aren’t negative about homeschooling.”

I asked Joanne what she considers the downside to homeschooling a dyslexic child, and she acknowledged the following drawbacks:

The time commitment.

“I have organised my work so I can be at home and have re-trained in tattoo removal with clients coming to my house. My other work is done in the evening to make up for the time I spend helping Josh.”

It’s a tremendous responsibility.

“It is a big responsibility, but it has brought us closer together. When people find out Josh is educated at home, they often comment on how polite and happy the homeschooled children they know are.”

Lack of funding.

“The Government funding for homeschooling isn’t great. Out of this, I have to buy all our resources and pay for tutoring and activities.”

 You need technology.

“Your child will require access to a computer. I would find it impossible to homeschool without the internet. There are wonderful online resources.”

Tips for getting started with homeschooling a dyslexic child

Check out the regulations

In New Zealand, you can’t remove a child from school to home educate until you have an exemption certificate from the Ministry of Education.

The useful web links:

The Ministry of Education https://parents.education.govt.nz/primary-school/schooling-in-nz/home-education/

The National Council of Home Educators New Zealand (NCHENZ) https://www.nchenz.org.nz/

 

Start With Enthusiasm

First up: start with enthusiasm! It can be a little overwhelming to look at everything you’ll need to do to prepare for homeschooling. Plus, there can also be a bit of self-doubt: a nagging inner voice saying you can’t do it.

Ignore those voices! Homeschooling is straightforward once you’re up and running. The best approach is to start with an enthusiastic, can-do attitude. You’ll find that the journey is much more enjoyable if you’re bringing plenty of positivity to proceedings. Plus, that kind of attitude will also rub off on your child.

 

Invest in Learning Materials

You’ll need to have plenty of learning materials if you’re going to homeschool your child. You can easily acquire most things, especially in this digital age. With little more than the internet, you can find a great deal on a laptop or iPad, fill up on stationary, and even get the resources you need to assess your child’s educational ability — for instance, if your child is going into grade 3, determine their level by having them complete a 3rd-grade math assessment. Once you have the basics in place, you can get started. You can always pick up other resources later down the line. And on that note — it’s best to set up a homeschool fund so you can buy supplies as and when required. 

Put Together a Learning Space

We call it ‘homeschooling,’ but that doesn’t mean you should teach your child anywhere on your property. It is usually best, if possible, to put together a dedicated learning area.

This will not only help keep your home organized (classroom lessons can get pretty chaotic!), but it will also ensure that your child (and you) are in the right mindset for learning. Your child will likely eat breakfast, lunch, and dinner at your dining table; learning elsewhere is best. 

In your “classroom,” consider adding a desk and chair, posters, and other learning staples so everyone knows it’s a space for sharing knowledge. 

 

Establish a Routine

You don’t need us to tell you that children thrive best when there’s a routine in place. The same can be said for their educational lives, too.

As a homeschooler, you’ll be able to establish your routine. This involves figuring out what works best for you and your child. For instance, would you prefer to complete your remote work tasks in the morning and then spend the afternoon in the classroom? Or perhaps the vice versa is appealing?

Whatever you choose, stick with it so that the routine becomes second nature. However, it’s okay to make adjustments if you find that an element of your routine isn’t quite working. It’s also good to be spontaneous and disregard the usual school day from time to time. 

 

Remember the Importance of Breaks

Your child won’t be able to learn for hours on end. Young children need a break every twenty minutes, even for only five to ten minutes. Older children can learn for around 45 minutes before needing a break. 

Remember that it’s not the amount of time your child spends in the classroom that counts, but rather the quality of their learning. It’ll be much better for them — and for you — to have two hours of quality lessons per day rather than four hours of low-quality learning. 

 

Setting the Curriculum 

The number one thing that worries parents is figuring out how they’ll set the curriculum. After all, that part of the process will ultimately determine what they learn. Unless you have experience in creating curriculums (for instance, you used to be a teacher), it’s best to look online at example curriculums for the subjects you’re planning to teach. Investigate All About Learning Resources . You can always modify the example to get your preferred teaching course, but it’ll help to give you a sound basis. Also, connect to local homeschooling networks and ask the other parents what they recommend.

 

Learning More than Subjects 

Remember that while you’ll fundamentally be teaching your child about your chosen subjects, there are also other things that kids learn in school that you should include, too. For example, time management and student responsibility — how to be a good student. You don’t have to spend too much time on these elements, but it can be worth touching on them occasionally. They’ll come in handy when your child enters the workforce. 

 

Grow as a Teacher

Finally, spending time growing and developing as a teacher is essential. You won’t be the perfect teacher on day one, but over time, you’ll grow into the position and become more confident. Once you’ve found your style, you might be your child’s best teacher. 

 

What are your thoughts on homeschooling?

 

 

To read how to teach spelling and reading in 30 minutes a day, click here.

Speechify is an app that can help dyslexic children as it reads online text. Here is my affiliate link.

You may enjoy this blog post from All About Learning Press on how the be the teacher your child needs.

Here is a blog post about useful things to know before starting homeschooling.